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Moon continues its sojourn in analytical Virgo, seeking perfection and order in all things. There’s an easy flow of action to this day, courtesy of a contact between the Moon and Mars at 4:21PM ET. This is preceded by a supercharged contact between the Moon and Venus in multitasking Gemini at 3:38PM ET. Translation: a potential ego drama over seemingly trivial details. Move on!

The other pattern exact today is a cooperative connection between the Taurus Sun and visionary Neptune in Pisces, exact at 7:11PM ET. Dreams, healing, music, art, empathy, illusion, martyrs, suffering, faith, hope and charity — with drugs, spirits, oil, gas and other toxins mixed into the headlines. In your own personal world, you may be feeling especially sensitive, as emotions are building to a seriously ripe Full Moon late Sunday. Feed your soul. Indulge in a gentle, dreamy escape. Practice random acts of kindness and senseless beauty.

This is Thursday:

Moon is void between 8:23AM and 10:03AM ET. Then it enters Libra, seeking balance and harmony in relationship. At 10PM ET, Mercury leaves Taurus for Gemini, the sign it rules. Mercury will be in Gemini until July 8th, where it functions with speed and efficiency. Make your pitch!

And now, the news.

Many were feeling especially sensitive to a beer company’s latest campaign slogan — and not just because it is cumbersome and clumsy. Bud Light: “The perfect beer for removing ‘no’ from your vocabulary for the night.” I can’t believe some marketing team got paid thousands of dollars for that brain-dead effort. If the marketing objective is to brand mediocre “beer” as an aphrodisiac, a catchier line would be “Bud Light: With you all the way.”

Should I ditch astrology for the glamorous life of an advertising copywriter?

But I digress. As it turns out, since our collective consciousness has just been through two heavy years of Saturn in Scorpio (10/12 – 12/14), thus raising awareness of the harsher realities (Saturn) of sexual energy (such as date rape), I’m pleased to report that Bud Light pulled its tasteless campaign.

Drugs, suffering, prisons and martyrs. These are uncomfortable potentials of Neptune. Add a challenge to Neptune from Saturn in Sagittarius (foreigners) and it might reflect the timing of Indonesia executing eight people by firing squad last night — only one was Indonesian. Most had spent over ten years on death row, convicted on charges of narcotics trafficking. One of those men, Myuran Sukumaran, became an accomplished artist while incarcerated. His paintings will be exhibited around the world this year, as transiting Uranus conjuncts his natal Mercury. Horoscopes live forever.

Here in the US, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case brought by Oklahoma inmates about whether the drugs used in lethal injections created unconstitutional pain and suffering (Neptune also refers to the surreal). Not-so-surreal was the detailed Moon-in-Virgo questions asked by SCOTUS in the second day of arguments in a case involving same-sex marriage. Chief Justice John Roberts, whose horoscope certainly suggests potential for innovative thought and perspicacity made a point that hadn’t been getting a lot of attention:

“I’m not sure it’s necessary to get into sexual orientation to resolve this case,” he said. “I mean, if Sue loves Joe and Tom loves Joe, Sue can marry him and Tom can’t. And the difference is based upon their different sex. Why isn’t that a straightforward question of sexual discrimination?”

That question created some buzz, as the above link explains. Frankly, I’d be surprised if the Court does not rule in favor of a constitutional right to same-sex marriage. And then they will move on to hearing cases arguing that discrimination is OK if not discriminating would violate one’s religious beliefs. We’ve got two more years of Saturn in Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces…

…and here are thoughts on that Saturn-Neptune aspect, as well as a reminder on what we can expect in the aftermath of the seventh Uranus-Pluto square. I wrote it at the beginning of the year. I wrote this other piece at the end of last month — it has more perspective on the onslaught of recent catastrophic headlines — see the paragraph about the quindecile.

Mr. Jenner is a Scorpio with Scorpio rising, suggesting depth, substance and a need to be — and be seen as — someone in power and in control. With that Scorpio Sun on the Ascendant, we anticipate a need to shine as a soloist in his vocation. Note that the Sun rules the Midheaven (career) and it is in mutual reception with Pluto, the ruler of the chart. Pluto is in the 10th house, along with Mars (action) in pristine Virgo. Fascinating to note that Mars rules the 6th house of work, cooperation and the body. Mars is in harmony with the Ascendant, which also refers to physical appearance. On the surface, we’d see the potential for a perfectionist drive, tremendous resources and discipline in presentation.

Scorpio rising and an eastern hemisphere emphasis suggest a defensive posture. As his astrologer, we’d want to find out why. What might he be protecting?

Mr. Jenner’s Moon is in Aquarius, and like his Sun, it sits on an angle of the chart, giving it added presence. An Aquarius Moon needs to be appreciated for being unique and for being socially significant. Keywords for Aquarius include: humanitarian, unconventional, friendship and offbeat. If you watched the Diane Sawyer interview last week, you’ll recall Mr. Jenner saying more than once that his “mission” (that’s Scorpio talking) was to promote tolerance and understanding (that’s Aquarius). He’d love to sit down with fellow Republicans Mitch McConnell and John Boehner and help them see that a transgendered person is nothing to fear (he said that as much, too). And with his Moon in the 3rd house conjunct Jupiter, he’d make an awesome sales pitch.

So here’s where things get interesting. His Moon is in an obsessive relationship with Pluto, suggesting some kind of competitive feeling with the feminine/maternal influence, impacting his identity. He’d need to communicate this awareness in a big way, and it’s no coincidence that he’s had such an international reach in his career — especially in the media.

We see an equally obsessive-compulsive relationship between Venus (social expression, values) and rebel/eccentric Uranus. Venus rules his 7th house of relationships, so we expect an intense need for freedom in his partnerships — and that need for freedom is likely quite avant garde. In Sagittarius and in the 2nd house, this Venus needs to have righteous expression of social values and self worth, but this need is likely to be constrained by Saturn, planet of necessary control. Why? Because Saturn is in a hard aspect with Venus. Something about this constraint is related to 1) an anxiety about being lovable; and 2) a conservative mindset, suggested by Saturn in the 11th ruling the 3rd.

Venus also rules the 12th house — traditionally the house of “self-undoing” or things that are suppressed in the subconscious. What clues about Mr. Jenner’s need for eccentric, righteous, honest social expression and self-worth will we find? Only a meet-up of Mercury, Neptune and the Nodal Axis, suggesting a bewildering and/or idealistic mindset, along with a need for avoidance of conflict at all costs (this meet-up is in Libra). We would know without a doubt that the relationship with the feminine/maternal is also bewildering, and we would ask him how this is so in the consultation. We’d ask how it influences areas of creative self-expression, and we’d soon be engaged in a meaningful conversation. If he’s like any of my clients, he would be thrilled (after the initial surprise), that his potential would be seen so clearly in his horoscope. How validating and empowering is that?

He would also be amazed that the timing of significant life events would also be suggested by planetary transits. “Mr. Jenner, there’s a strong suggestion of bewilderment about your identity — a potential ego wipe-out in 1958…” and he would tell you that this is when he felt compelled to put on a dress for the first time. “And in the summer of 1976, why do we see the suggestion that you were at the top of your game professionally?” That was when he became a gold medalist at the Olympics. And so forth.

As for the timing of his interview with Ms. Sawyer and the documentary about his transition that will air this summer, you better believe that such a ground-breaking disruption of the status quo involves the seventh Uranus-Pluto square, as well as those two potent eclipses at 14 Aries-Libra in April and 15 last October. Mr. Jenner’s Neptune is at 15 Libra; the North Node is at 15 Aries in his 6th house. Talk about a supercharged vision of self-expression meeting the public!

A North Node in Aries in the 6th suggests a need to be one’s own pioneering self — especially in the physical body. Uranus just hit that Node for the 3rd time this winter; Pluto is at 15 Capricorn — squaring the Node and Neptune all this year. And let’s not overlook an exact square between transiting Chiron and his natal Chiron in the 2nd house of self-worth, suggesting an opportunity to heal lifelong wounds. Not to mention other arcs I’d love to write about, in an article for which someone is actually paying me.

One segment of Ms. Sawyer’s interview showed her speaking with medical professionals about gender dysphoria. One of the doctors showed a chart — an infrared ultraviolet x-ray CAT scan thing of a human brain “lit up” in different colors. The colors represented hormones — male, female, whatever. Hardly anyone at home watching TV would expect to understand what those patterns of colored light on the brain meant, but everyone would trust that the doctor did; therefore, this chart was Reliable Proof that gender dysphoria was something that could be measured and validated.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if Ms. Sawyer — who is going to need a follow-up act for her journalistic scoop — did a serious journalistic piece on how a natal chart can also be used to anticipate one’s potential in life, including the timing of life events? It would be even more compelling if she interviewed some Serious People who had consulted with an astrologer and found it accurate and helpful.

It would be even more awesome if you found out what your unique horoscope suggests about your life potential. Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

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Monday’s Leo Moon was void during business hours between 10:12AM and 9:07PM ET. Did you feel a bit “meh” about this wonderful new week? Have any twists and delays in your efforts to move forward in a straight line? You were not alone. If you are a NYT subscriber, perhaps you read this helpful and aptly timed article about the futility of trying to push through obstacles when you are clearly headed in the wrong direction. Yesterday’s regal Moon was square Mercury in stubborn Taurus, doncha’ know…and that can present a logjam. Or a regal outburst of frustration. What does the article recommend? Walk, wander and chill…perfect during a Moon void.

Today the Moon is in Virgo, perfect for projects that involves organizing, analyzing and cleaning of the confetti and other remnants of the weekend’s Moon in Leo bash. Make good use of this energetic flow for the next three days.

The only other Moon void during the work week happens on Thursday between 8:23AM and 10:03AM ET. Other exact planetary patterns include Wednesday’s communicative alignment between the Sun and Neptune, suggesting headlines involving intangibles, such as high art and music, colored rose. Here’s one about a lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Musicians against three movie studios who allegedly outsourced film scoring work, in violation of a union agreement.

On Thursday, Mercury leaves Taurus for airy Gemini, the sign it rules. That should pick up the pace and efficiency of thought and communication. It will also coincide with the planned crash of NASA’s Messenger spacecraft on Mercury. Amazing. On Sunday, just before midnight, we’ll have a Full Moon in Scorpio…suggesting a palpable building of emotions as we get closer to the weekend. There’s a big fight scheduled on Saturday night…sure to be intense. I think I’ll pass.

And now, more news.

Certainly you have heard about the 7.8 earthquake that occurred in Nepal just before noon on Saturday. With two potent eclipses and the seventh Uranus-Pluto square releasing over the past several weeks, a major seismic event is not surprising, but I can tell you from my own experience with earthquakes that this is no consolation. I did find it interesting that the most destructive quake to hit Nepal in the past 100 years happened on January 15th, 1934, after the last series of Uranus-Pluto squares. The chart for that quake is much more intense than this recent quake, as was the loss of life. I know that two events hardly qualify as a full-blown data analysis. I promise to do more when my MacArthur Fellowship materializes.

Not surprised about yesterday’s fiery turmoil in Baltimore, either, for reasons stated plenty of times before in this forecast. Sign of the times.

Meanwhile, during the earlier part of that long Moon void in Cancer, at least 17 million Americans did stay home Friday night (as suggested) and spend time with their favorite gal pal (also suggested). That gal pal was Diane Sawyer, whose riveting interview with Bruce Jenner could not have been more perfectly timed, also reflecting that cooperative aspect between Venus (women, aesthetics, values) and unconventional, tech-friendly Uranus in gotta be me-me-me Aries.

I will do a write-up of Mr. Jenner’s horoscope (he has not asked to be addressed as “Ms.” yet), hopefully in the next forecast. It paints an accurate portrait of his personal struggles and triumphs, and along with the timing of life events. It’s a complicated horoscope, as you can imagine, and I can’t help but think how much Mr. Jenner would benefit from a consultation with a sophisticated astrologer. It would be a validating, liberating experience. I hope he has one on call.

Meanwhile, let the record show a few more apt Venus sextile Uranus headlines, reflecting offbeat themes. First, it was a perfect backdrop for John Oliver to host a Monty Python panel discussion at the Tribeca Film Festival. Venus and Uranus together can be quirky and funny. It was also well-suited for a review of Anne Hathaway’s solo performance as a fighter pilot (Uranus refers to aviation) in “Grounded,” now playing at the Public Theatre. How about an NYT op-ed about how to attract women engineers? And finally, there was this story: “Websites in India Put a Bit of Choice in Arranged Marriages” — putting an innovative spin on an old-fashioned convention.

Last, but not least, a regal Leo Moon, combined with the social tolerance (and wit) of that Venus-Uranus made for quite a show at the Annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner. And there was President Obama bringing down the house with a string of one-liners. But wait — you might say — didn’t I specifically write on Friday that Barack Obama wouldn’t be partying over the weekend? Watch his speech (aided and abetted by Luther, his personal anger translator). Do you really think he was joking? See the write-up here. The video of the whole speech is here. The part with Luther is here.

The heavy Saturn transits in the president’s horoscope are happening in tandem with transiting Jupiter to his Sun at 12 degrees Leo. This Jupiter transit suggests an ego boost, with opportunities for ego expansion and — in traditional astrology — good fortune and timing. It may facilitate the ambitious reach of those concurrent Saturn transits, but likely not completely cancel out their potential pitfalls. Horoscopes nearly always contain patterns that seem contradictory. This is why it is wise not to obsess about a seemingly “bad” or “good” pattern in your chart. Besides, planets don’t do anything — as astrologer Noel Tyl has said. People do!